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Unveiling of WWI Pals' memorial Unveiling of WWI Pals' memorial
(about 5 hours later)
A memorial is being unveiled to the 222 Chorley Pals who served in World War I, after three years of fundraising. A memorial has been unveiled to the 222 Chorley Pals who served in World War I, after three years of fundraising.
The 7ft (2m)-high statue of a uniformed soldier on a plinth, overlooking Chorley's main market, will be officially revealed at 1400 GMT. The 7ft (2m)-high statue of a uniformed soldier on a plinth, overlooking Chorley's main market, was unveiled in an official ceremony on Sunday.
It features the names of the men who served with the company.It features the names of the men who served with the company.
The Chorley Pals eventually joined the better-known Accrington Pals and were decimated at the opening of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916.The Chorley Pals eventually joined the better-known Accrington Pals and were decimated at the opening of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916.
The unveiling marks 95 years after the Pals left the town to go to war. The unveiling was to mark 95 years since the Pals left the town to go to war.
'Brave men''Brave men'
A parade of soldiers from the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, accompanied by their regimental band and colour party, will leave the TA Centre in Devonshire Road. A parade of soldiers from the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, accompanied by their regimental band and colour party, left the TA Centre in Devonshire Road.
They will effectively retrace the steps the Chorley Pals took when they marched off to war in February 1915. They retraced the steps the Chorley Pals took when they marched off to war in February 1915.
Before the ceremony, six members of the Manchester Regiment 1914-1918 will be "on parade" in front of the memorial, dressed in uniforms and kit from the period. Before the ceremony, six members of the Manchester Regiment 1914-1918 were "on parade" in front of the memorial, dressed in uniforms and kit from the period.
Steve Williams, Chorley Pals Memorial Secretary and Trustee, said: "The memorial has generated a tremendous amount of interest over the last three years. Steve Williams, Chorley Pals Memorial Secretary and Trustee, said: "The memorial has generated a tremendous amount of interest over the last three years."
"We do hope that there will be a good turnout to see a new landmark in Chorley but importantly a suitable memorial to the brave men who formed the unit back in 1914."
Pals' relativesPals' relatives
When war broke out in August 1914, Capt James Milton from Chorley formed a Pals battalion with 30 local men signing up. They went on to join a newly-raised battalion at Accrington.When war broke out in August 1914, Capt James Milton from Chorley formed a Pals battalion with 30 local men signing up. They went on to join a newly-raised battalion at Accrington.
They eventually became the Y Company of the 11th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment.They eventually became the Y Company of the 11th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment.
MP Lindsay Hoyle, who has been involved in the fundraising for the statue, will perform the official opening. MP Lindsay Hoyle, who was involved in the fundraising for the statue, performed the official opening.
Relatives of the Pals, civic leaders, and representatives of the Royal British Legion, Chorley Ex-Service Association and the Duke of Lancaster's Regimental Association are due to attend. Relatives of the Pals, civic leaders, and representatives of the Royal British Legion, Chorley Ex-Service Association and the Duke of Lancaster's Regimental Association took part in the ceremony.